"THE EPISTLE OF JUDE" Jude's Closing Doxology (24-25) INTRODUCTION 1. In the course of his short epistle, Jude has had to write some necessary, and to some degree, unpleasant things... a. A plea to contend earnestly for the faith - Jude 3 b. A warning about ungodly men who have crept in unnoticed - Jude 4 c. A reminder of God's righteous condemnation in times past - Jude 5-7 d. A description of the depravity of the ungodly dreamers - Jude 8-16 e. Counsel on how to keep from stumbling - Jude 17-23 -- One might think that such unpleasant tasks would leave him in a depressed state of mind 2. Yet we find that Jude is moved to end his epistle with a "doxology"... a. The word means "an expression of praise to God" b. Doxologies are common in Scripture 1) Usually at the end of an epistle - cf. Ro 16:25-27 2) Sometimes in the middle of one - cf. Ep 3:20-21 c. The format of a doxology is usually in two parts: 1) An address to the one being praised, including reasons for the praise being offered 2) The expression of praise itself 3. In "Jude's Closing Doxology", we find this epistle closing... a. On a very high note, not in doubt and fear b. With a beautiful expression of faith and hope 4. That we might be sure to live with a strong assurance of faith and hope, let's take a few moments to carefully examine this "expression of praise" preserved for us in this epistle [Jude begins his doxology by describing...] I. THE PERSON TO WHOM PRAISE IS ASCRIBED (24-25a) A. "TO HIM WHO IS ABLE..." 1. "to keep you from stumbling" a. That God is in view is evident from verse 25 b. But the emphasis appears to be on His ability to keep us from "stumbling" 1) "stumbling" does not refer to the occasional sin 2) But to stumble so as to fall away completely - cf. 2 Pe 1:10 c. This is reassuring in an epistle filled with warning about ungodly men who would seek to lead one astray d. God's ability to keep us from stumbling was implied at the very beginning of this epistle - cf. Jude 1 ("preserved in Jesus Christ" ) e. But as we have suggested in previous lessons, our faith must cooperate with God's power if we are to keep from "stumbling" - cf. 1Pe 1:5; 2Pe 1:5-11 f. Indeed, we must heed the exhortations given by Jude himself: 1) "Remember the words spoken before..." - Jude 17 2) "building yourselves up on your most holy faith" - Jude 20 3) "praying in the Holy Spirit" - Jude 20 4) "keep yourselves in the love of God - Jude 21 5) "looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" - Jude 21 g. If we continue in faith, heeding such exhortations, we know that God is able to keep us from falling! h. God's ability is stressed by Paul in his "doxology" - cf. Ep 3:20-21 2. "to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy" a. Here, the focus is on God's ability to produce the ultimate goal of redemption b. That goal is expressed here as presenting us before God... 1) "faultless" a) As Paul expressed it in Ep 5:27... 1] "not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing" 2] "holy and without blemish" b) This is necessary if we are to be permitted in the presence of God's glory 2) "with exceeding joy" a) Without a doubt this will be the condition of those so blessed! b) But let's not discount the joy God will experience when He sees His redeemed ones at last! c. Through His divine providence, God will bring His scheme of redemption to pass - cf. Ro 8:28-30 B. "TO GOD..." 1. "our Savior" a. At this point Jude is about to ascribe praise to God b. So this phrase may be a summary description of what was stated in verse 24 c. I.e., that the God who is able to keep us from stumbling and present us faultless is truly our Savior! 2. "who alone is wise" a. His wisdom is seen in His ability to keep us from stumbling and present us faultless b. Again, a summary description of God in view of verse 24 [Having described God, Jude proceeds to offer his praise. A feature noted in Jude's epistle is his love of triplets... - His description of his readers - Jude 1 - His prayer for them - Jude 2 - His three examples of God's righteous condemnation - Jude 5-7 - His preliminary description of the ungodly dreamers - Jude 8 - His three examples of Old Testament apostates - Jude 11 - His summary description of the ungodly dreamers - Jude 19 - His threefold exhortation to his beloved - Jude 20-21 Now in His doxology, we find one more triplet, actually a triplet of doublets, being used in..] II. THE PRAISE ASCRIBED TO GOD (25b) A. "GLORY AND MAJESTY" 1. "glory" comes from "doxa" {dox'-ah}, and is used to suggest dignity and honor 2. "majesty" comes from "megalosune" {meg-al-o-soo'-nay}, meaning "greatness" 3. These terms are closely related in concept, suggesting that which is worthy of awe, praise, and worship -- Thus Jude seeks to have all glory and majesty given to God B. "DOMINION AND POWER" 1. "dominion" is from "kratos" {krat'-os}, and means "might, power, strength" 2. "power" is from "exousia" {ex-oo-see'-ah}, and refers to "authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength" 3. Also closely related in concept, the use of these words demonstrate that Jude recognizes that it is God who rightly deserves and exercises authority over all -- Not only does he recognize it, it is his fervent prayer that it continue (as we read on...) C. "BOTH NOW AND FOREVER" 1. Jude's fervent prayer is that dominion and power, glory and majesty remain God's 2. Not just for the present, but for eternity! CONCLUSION 1. With a single word ("amen", i.e., "so be it"), Jude ends his doxology and the epistle itself 2. And so it WILL be... a. Despite the efforts of any to turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ b. God will bring into judgment all who are ungodly c. God will preserve in Jesus Christ all who remain faithful to Him 1) God will keep them from stumbling 2) God will present them faultless before His presence with exceeding joy 3. And to Him WILL be... a. Glory and majesty b. Dominion and power ...both now and forever! But brethren, for us to enjoy the blessedness promised the faithful, we must heed Jude's call... - To remember the words spoken before - To build ourselves up on our most holy faith - To pray in the Holy Spirit - To keep ourselves in the love of God - To look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus unto eternal life - To extend compassionate effort to those in danger ...for only then will it be true that we heeded the exhortation "to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints"!
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